Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public to Comment on UH Police Department

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on the University of Houston campus on Monday, May 26, to examine all aspects of the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD) policy and procedures, management, operation and support services.

UHPD’s participation in the accreditation process, in which the assessment team verifies compliance with IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards, is voluntary. The accreditation is a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

University community members and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 713-743-0990 between 1 and 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 28. Comments will be taken by the on-site assessment team and should address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at UHPD headquarters, 3869 Wheeler St. on the University of Houston campus. Please contact Capt. Katherine Smith at 713-743-3333 to view the standards. Anyone wishing to submit written comments about UHPD’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation, 342 North Main St., West Hartford, CT 06117-2507.

“UHPD has to comply with over 200 standards in order to achieve accredited status”, Chief Moore said. “Accreditation is a means to ensure that the best policing practices are being employed by UHPD. In congruence with our departmental vision, this process will help UHPD to become the best police department possible.”

The accreditation manager for UHPD is Capt. Katherine Smith. She said the IACLEA Assessment Team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals who will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities for compliance. Assessors are Chief Brian Seastone from the University of Arizona Police Department and Captain Scott VanScoy from the California State University – Northridge Department of Public Services. Once the assessors complete their review of the department, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the department is to be granted accredited status.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.